Q: I read on your website that, “There are two types of RIPs: type I, which are much less cytotoxic due to the lack of the B chain and type II, which are distinguished from type I RIPs by the presence of the B chain and their ability to enter cells on their own.”
In the IT-27 Streptavidin-ZAP product, which type of saporin is there? Is it both type I and type II because the saporin is purified from the plant, or is it one specific type only in the product.
A: All saporin molecules are Type I ribosome-inactivating proteins. We only use saporin. An example of a Type II RIP is ricin, which can enter a cell on its own and has been used throughout history as a method of assassination.
Streptavidin-ZAP is streptavidin attached to saporin. On its own it has no way to get inside a cell. By mixing Streptavidin-ZAP with a biotinylated molecule that is recognized on the cell surface, the resulting conjugate is able to bind and internalize saporin into a cell. Once inside saporin inactivates the ribosomes which causes cell death.